Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Contesting the $1 million Nullarbor Slot race at Gloucester Park in April is in the pipeline for the exciting injury-plagued pacer Prince Of Pleasure, whose sizzling speed and sheer brilliance enthralled harness racing fans on Friday night.
“I’m going to push him through the classes in a bid to run in the Cups in January,” said trainer Gary Hall Snr after Gary Hall Jnr had driven Prince Of Pleasure to a runaway victory in the 1730m Barbagallo Luxury Cars Pace.
Hall Snr admitted that Prince Of Pleasure was running out of time to earn starts in the $300,000 Fremantle Cup on January 13 and the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup a fortnight later. But he said he would love the New Zealand-bred five-year-old to remain sound to emerge as a prospective runner in the Nullarbor Slot.
Prince Of Pleasure rated a smart 1.53.5 in winning on Friday night when the quarters whizzed by in 28.9sec., 29.1sec., 27.8sec. and 28.2sec.
Replying to a query about Prince Of Pleasure’s staying ability, Hall said: “He’s a good stayer and ten miles wouldn’t be a problem. He pulled out 1200m from home tonight, and you can’t do that and go on and win unless you can stay. He’s fast as well. The only shortcoming is that he has bad legs.”
Hall picked out Prince Of Pleasure after the gelding had won once from eight starts in New Zealand. “He was super when he won brilliantly at his final start in New Zealand,” said Hall.
But things haven’t been plain sailing for Hall since Prince Of Pleasure arrived in Western Australia in October 2020. The gelding has broken down three times with a bowed tendon, and on Friday night he was having only his sixth start in the State since arriving here 25 months ago. He has won in dashing style at all those six appearances.
Prince Of Pleasure was the $1.14 favourite in Friday night’s race when Hall did not bustle him out from the No. 6 barrier. He settled down in tenth position and began a sizzling three-wide burst from the 950m mark to take the lead with 400m to travel and go on to win by six lengths from Little Bit Of Fun.